Secys asked to rein in bids at policy-making

NEW DELHI, December 4: A circular issued by Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian has asked all Secretaries to the Government to ensure that the caretaker government headed by Gujral does not take decisions which set "new policy or involve new spending of a significant order".

The guidelines from the Cabinet Secretariat also debar the government from taking major administrative/executive decisions during its term as caretaker. Government officials said the circular, which has gone out in the form of a letter dated December 2, is a routine exercise carried out by the Cabinet Secretariat when a caretaker government comes into being.

The note however warns that the guidelines should not obstruct urgent decisions. These could be cleared by obtaining the necessary permission from the Cabinet. The Secretaries have been asked to bring the circular to attention of their ministers so that the norms of functioning for a caretaker government are not violated.